Day:  PHILADELPHIA                                    

If you’re venturing into Philadelphia for a single day, we suggest you focus your attention on the city’s phenomenal historic district.  What makes this excursion so convenient is that it’s centered on one particular section of town, near the waterfront of the Delaware River.  Start by signing up for a walking tour of Independence Hall at the Visitor Center; the guides are second to none and will ensure that you don’t miss any of the important sights.  There are a variety of fine restaurants in the area that will accommodate your lunch plans and have you well rested for a leisurely afternoon walk.  The most interesting locales in the historic district include (but are not limited to) the Betsy Ross House, the Liberty Bell, Christ Church and Burial Ground, Fireman’s Hall Museum, and the old apartments of Elfreth’s Alley.  If you feel the need to truly experience life as it once was, feel free to spend part of the tour on the back of a horse-drawn carriage; they’re readily available and there are more than enough to go around.  One day should be more than enough to get a taste of how Philadelphia was a driving force in the battle for Independence, and why it is such a strong city today.